Honestly, I can't think of a single thing R2 did that required a human being to "play" the part. Everything we see R2 could've been done with a mechanical puppet, a simple robot, or the most basic of special effects available in the 1970s.
What's the "most" we R2 do that Baker provided? Him jumping up and down when being sold by the Jawas? Could've been pulled of with ropes hung from above or shifting weights on the inside.
Baker has no impact on the "performance" or "character" of R2, they could have put anyone in the suit and the performance would have been exactly the same. Thus, I'd say, the man did not "play" R2 and it isn't relateble at all to C3PO's or any other character's "performance" as the way the actor simply acted and moved as Darth Vader does a lot for the character in spite of the voice being someone else.
The look and performance of the actor playing Boba Fett, C3PO, or any of the storm-troopers all give "something" to the character in the way they move their bodies which does a lot to give you a character. Baker sat in a can, pressed buttons, or simply shifted his weight a little bit. That's hardly a "performance" that merits any real "credit" beyond, "Hey, cool. You're the short-statured guy who roasted in a tin can in Tunisia and rocked side to side when Lucas said "Action!" Neat."
What's the "most" we R2 do that Baker provided? Him jumping up and down when being sold by the Jawas? Could've been pulled of with ropes hung from above or shifting weights on the inside.
Baker has no impact on the "performance" or "character" of R2, they could have put anyone in the suit and the performance would have been exactly the same. Thus, I'd say, the man did not "play" R2 and it isn't relateble at all to C3PO's or any other character's "performance" as the way the actor simply acted and moved as Darth Vader does a lot for the character in spite of the voice being someone else.
The look and performance of the actor playing Boba Fett, C3PO, or any of the storm-troopers all give "something" to the character in the way they move their bodies which does a lot to give you a character. Baker sat in a can, pressed buttons, or simply shifted his weight a little bit. That's hardly a "performance" that merits any real "credit" beyond, "Hey, cool. You're the short-statured guy who roasted in a tin can in Tunisia and rocked side to side when Lucas said "Action!" Neat."